starting problem

The Oily Bits S1 Specific Topics
1

Hi all,
My S1 Exige won’t start . after winter hibernation , charged/ replaced the battery , now it won’t start ,engine turns over, have fuel and spark , checked and cleaned plugs , replaced crankshaft sensor , still not starting , it will occasionally fire but not run .

thanks Parkie

2

Hi Parkie,

unhappy first post but welcome to the forum anyway :thumbup:.
Your problem sounds strange, I have no real clue as everything you have done sounds reasonable. So only some wild guessing from me.
As you parked the car the engine was running faultlessly? And you did nothing to the car except to try to start it after the hibernation period?
You may re-check the wiring of the plugs if the order is right.
Check the IAC valve underneath the throttle bodies. It may have got stuck in the open position and the car gets too much air to start.

Besids that I have no idea if fuel and sparks are present.

Klaus

3

They can be quite contrary beggers when not used for a while, my suggestions:

Check main earthing points for corrosion
Bypass the immobiliser - you can get the bypass from Eliseparts
Injectors gunged up? - tap them as the engine turns over.
Clean/check the conical air filter - also check that there isn’t a mouse nest in the plenum - had this once…
When was fuel filter last changed?

Check that the ignition wiring is continuous - there is a tendency for some of the wiring to go brittle with age and break - particularly suspect where the coil pack is and where the wiring passes through the rear bulkhead to the ecu

Strange that it fires sometime tho’? - have you checked the timing?

4

Yea couldn’t work that out. I’ll put the question to a few people.

5

As above, immobiliser bypass would definitely be high up my list of things to try, they’ve been known to fail in unexpected ways! :frowning:

Is the car on the standard ECU, can you get a fault reader on it? Not all OBD readers will work but I’ve had some success with a bluetooth reader and the Torque Lite app.

6

Thanks for all posts , took all sensors off, sprayed electrical with contact cleaner , hey presto started right away . now ready for more outings .

7

Result :slight_smile: - welcome to S1 Exigeland - nothing ever surprises me after 17 years ownership - they have character in spades that no other car I have ever owned has had - now get out and give it some beans :slight_smile:

8

Great news!